AP Information Night

F B : Enrolling in AP COURSES

AP Information Night 2019

AGENDA

TEACHER ADVICE: 3 THINGS THEY WISH YOU KNEW

STUDENT PANEL:

● Sanjana Paye● Diana Valenzuela● Gilly Folk● Katie Marie Zickert● Sofia Rojo-Kratochvil

AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE

1. This course should be a priority (above activities and athletics)2. Must have a strong foundation in critical reading & writing skills3. Passionate about reading (mostly done outside of class) & writing (you will

write roughly 30 essays)

AP ENGLISH LITERATURE

1. Must truly be interested in literary art & analysis, critical theory, & texts written from 1550 to present (this is a college-level experience)

2. Be aware of time and attention given to: close-reading, literary interpretation, explication, composition, academic discourse, and multiple choice test-taking principles

3. Must enjoy reading college-level texts that will be intellectually challenging & require time and attention outside of class. Must come to class prepared.

AP CALCULUS (AB/BC)

1. Must have a solid foundation in Algebra & Pre-Calculus (for AB) and Calculus (for BC)

2. A desire to learn the “why’s” of math, not just the “how”3. Must keep an open mind and remember that math can be FUN!

AP STATISTICS1. You will need a graphing calculator and will use it every day.2. Statistics is more about logic than arithmetic3. Almost every major in college requires students to take a statistics class

AP BIOLOGY

1. Requires Self-Discipline; Semester 1 is a review of the first year of Bio; Very little time is dedicated to lecture and several web-based materials and lab activities will be utilized

2. Expect to read and take notes on entire chapters for homework; 15 chapters are covered in each Semester

3. Tests are given as unit tests. Most tests cover between 3-5 chapters and consist of MC & Free Response

AP CHEMISTRY

1. Must be willing to practice problem solving techniques & procedures daily2. Math knowledge is central to this course. Most of the math is algebraic with

some pre-calculus and advanced topics (kinetics & equilibrium)3. Lecture time is limited and replaced with web-based supports and in-class lab

work. Web-based resources are used in addition to homework.

AP PHYSICS

1. This is a problem solving course. Students are expected to solve high-level reasoning questions

2. This is a math heavy course requiring extensive use of Algebra 2 principles.It is strongly advised to take this course after having completed Algebra 2

3. PRACTICE! Students should expect to complete 2-3 AP practice books on their own in order to do well on the AP Exam.

AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

1. Extensive reading outside of class is required2. This is a test heavy course; each test consists of around 70 questions (MC &

Free Response)3. This course depends on student driven discussions, projects, and labs.

AP STEMAP Comp Sci A

1. Programming is best done as a team where you can explain your processes.2. Programming is like learning a language: you learn by doing it.

AP Comp Sci Principles

1. No previous programming background needed2. A desire to learn how computers & the internet works

Learning to program is FUN!

AP ART (2D/3D)

1. Workload is very challenging and is for students serious about art. A minimum of 24 pieces are required for the AP Portfolio

2. Students are expected to spend at least 2 hours at home for every hour spent in class. You will NOT finish your workload in class alone!

3. Must be open to constructive feedback and participate in critiques (providing constructive feedback to peers)

AP MUSIC THEORY

1. Previous experience is not required (although helpful)2. Focus of class is Reading, Writing, and Interpreting music (great for aspiring

songwriters!)3. Homework assignments come from the Music Theory Workbook with the goal

of helping students to pass the AP Exam in May

AP ART HISTORY

1. This is an ART & History class, focusing on getting to know cultures through their art. You should appreciate and be interested in both.

2. You do NOT need to be an artist yourself to take this class!3. You will study over 250 works of art, focusing on about 5 works each class

period. Homework will include extensive reading and watching educational videos

AP WORLD HISTORY

1. Students will not spend class listening to teacher lectures. Instead, students in APWH are debaters, thinkers, and writers.

2. Students must read assigned chapters and listen to assigned audio lectures before attending class. Class time is spent examining, together, historical events and working to formulate informed opinions about the impact and significance.

3. Great emphasis is placed on honing historical thinking skills (chronological reasoning, comparison, contextualization, argumentation, interpretation, synthesis)

4. Every one of the 6 units consists of: audio lectures, primary source analysis, cooperative group work, class debate, student presentations, essay & short answer development, statistical analysis, and socratic seminars

AP US HISTORY

1. Must have your textbook on the first day of class. The entire textbook will be covered by April. Additional supplementary materials will also be used.

2. Requires a significant amount of reading & note-taking done independently to allow for enriching discussions and in-class activities.

3. Must keep up with current events and be passionate about history while simultaneously wanting to challenge themself in a college-level course

AP GOVERNMENT & POLITICS & AP PSYCHOLOGY1. Students are expected to have their textbook on the first day of class.2. This course requires a significant amount of reading & note-taking which is

done independently of class time. 3. Students are expected to be present and attentive every class period. Missing

class will make it difficult to succeed in this course.

AP FRENCH

1. Students should feel comfortable having short conversations in French2. Must be proficient in past and present tense conjugations

STUDENT PANEL● Sanjana Paye● Diana Valenzuela● Gilly Folk● Katie Marie Zickert● Sofia Rojo-Kratochvil

SUMMARY

1. Reading & Note-taking is an expectation and will be done independently of the classroom experience. This is not homework, it is just an expectation.

2. High volume workload (30 essays, Chapter of reading each night, etc)3. Strong foundation in course content essential for success4. Best for inquisitive and critical thinkers5. Very little or no in-class lectures provided; student directed learning with

classroom applications6. Student-driven discourse, conversations, debate, and analysis are very

common7. Audio lectures are common8. Consistent attendance with necessary materials and reading completed

essential